All of Coruscant was filled with happy citizens roaming the streets in anticipation of the New Year.

Crowd: "Five... Four... Three... Two... One!"

A great roar washed over the planet as the bells rang out and the year of 2000 ABY was ushered in.

Crowd: "Happy New Year!!"

The crowd laughed and danced, sharing drinks and kisses as the infectious fun spread across the planet. Suddenly, the great Monitors hanging from Coruscant's tall buildings began to flicker to life and the cheerful atmosphere died instantly as the image of Emperor Vastantine appeared on the screens.

Emperor Vastantine: "Citizens of the Empire! Happy New Year! 2000 ABY marks 40 glorious years of Imperial control! We have done so many great things in those years. We have brought our glaxy back from the brink and made it whole once more! The Sith Empire will stand as it always has! We will..."

The crowd frowned in silence as the image of Vastantine flickered and died.

Suddenly the image of a tall Kaminoan appeared on the screens.

Yurren Relm: "Citizens of the Galaxy. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yurren Relm, I represent the Jedi Order."

Yurren paused as the crowds all over the galaxy drew in surprised gasps.

Yurren Relm: "I am here to tell you that you are free people trapped by an Empire that would see you brought to your knees. It was the Sith who brought on the plague that wrecked the Galaxy, the Sith who destroyed everything we hold dear. For 40 years you have suffered their wrath. I am here to tell you that there is another choice. The Republic has not forgotten you, nor have the Jedi. We are back, and we will bring light to this Galaxy of darkness!"

The image suddenly cut off as the Imperial technicians finally regained control over the holonet. Silence fell, but all over the galaxy, the fires of hope were burning brightly.

The Dark Council Chambers, two days later.

Darth Koviss sighed as his fellow Siths' voices filled the vaunted halls of the chamber room.

Darth Xedrix: "The Jedi have nerve! They need to be crushed, wiped from existance!"

Darth Cathix: "The technicians were under your control Juru! I hope they have been executed for their failure!"

Darth Koviss: "Enough! We waste time bickering over our pointless rivalries. I for one would like to hear what our Emperor has to say."

Vastantine rose slowly to his feet, his black robes barely containing the tremendous weight he had gained over the past years.

Emperor Vastantine: "Deal with it!"

The Sith sat silently as Vastantine marched off towards the door that led to his private chambers, none of them daring to say a word.

When the door at last slid shut, Darth Mercu spat angrily on the floor.

Darth Mercu: "That old fool! That is all he has to say?"

Darth Juru: "He is growing weak! He does not know how to deal with this!"

Darth Xedrix turned on the two Sith, his fingers tightening around the grip of his staff.

Darth Xedrix: "Quiet your tongues, fools!"

Darth Cathix: "Oh be quiet, Xedrix! We all know that you are Vastantine's pet, you and your minion, Davros!"

Darth Davros: "I could kill you where you sit girl!"

Cathix's hand hovered over her lightsaber as she glared at the Zabrack.

Darth Cathix: "Try it, scum!"

Darth Juru turned as Darth Koviss rose from his seat.

Darth Juru: "Where are you going Koviss?"

Darth Koviss: "We have a job to do, all of us. We swore loyalty to the Emperor, he wants us to deal with this problem. As head of Imperial Intelligence I am going to try and find out where the Jedi will strike next! I would suggest that the rest of you go and put your departments to good use!"

Koviss turned quickly around and marched away, a smile pulling at the corner of his lips as he heard the other Sith rise slowly from their seats.

Koviss moved quiety through the corridors into a small meeting room.

Darth Koviss: "I need to speak to you two."

Silence decended over the room as the two figures rose and turned, revealing themselves as Lord Ignatious and Lord Algren.

Lord Ignatious: "Why?"

Darth Koviss: "I have news."

Darth Koviss: "Vastantine is growing weak. The Dark Council are a lightsaber strike away from defying him. If you wish to regain the titles that Vastantine stripped you of when you were found then now is your chance."

Lord Ignatious: "If Vastantine is so weak, why don't you attack him?"

Darth Koviss: "The throne has never appealed to me, I prefer to work in the shadows. I merely want what is best for the Empire."

Lord Algren: "Of all the Sith you could champion, why us?"

Darth Koviss: "Because the Empire needs an edge. And I believe that, when the time comes, you two can provide us with exactly what we are looking for."